The
Environment Court has ruled in favour of farmers on the
Banks Peninsula who have been fighting for the right to farm
their land for over a decade.

Federated Farmers Banks
Peninsula Branch Chair Pam Richardson says she is relieved
but at the same time frustrated.

“Although we have won
and it is a relief, this fight has consumed us for 11 years.
We are tired, it has sapped our energy. We have spent
thousands of hours and dollars to get to this end.

Mrs
Richardson believes the court’s decision recognises the
good faith and effort put into mediation proceedings by
farmers.

Federated Farmers had worked hard to come up
with rules and landscape designations that were fair through
a task force formed by the Banks Peninsula District Council
(now merged with Christchurch City Council) and through
mediations ordered by the Environment Court on the Banks
Peninsula District Plan.

Farmers negotiated in good
faith with Environment Canterbury and other parties and made
concessions to obtain a result that everyone could live
with. Although the extent of landscape designations was not
fully resolved it was anticipated that the views of the
major parties would not change greatly from the agreements
made.

“We were incredibly disappointed to find that
Environment Canterbury sought greater restrictions than had
been indicated in mediation and that the matter would have
to proceed to court.

Federated Farmers felt the matter
should not have had to go to court at all and the case was a
waste of farmer’s time as well as ratepayer’s
money.

“This decision is the culmination of over a
decade of negotiation and mediation, we are glad to put it
to bed. We just hope that in the future local and regional
government will work in partnership with us to benefit both
the community and the environment.” Mrs Richardson
said.

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